Chapter 2

JULIE

“Okay, why don’t we start from scratch? I’m Alex, and I’m 25.”

“Tell me, why are we doing this again?”

“Cause I want to know you better to be able to understand where all that anger you have is coming from.”

“Hahaha, ah, very funny. So you’re not doing this because my mother asked you then?”

“Well, sort of, but I just want to know you better for myself.”

“Okay, I’m Julie, just turned 18 a week ago.”

“So, tell me, Julie, why do you hate your sister so much, apart from the stealing your boyfriend part.”

“Well, it seems like someone has been observant. Well, I guess you know I went to Miami to learn to become a better person, which I can tell you wasn’t a total waste of time. It actually made me stronger and more daring, and for me to stand up for myself. And not let another person fight my fights, because if they do, they wouldn’t be there to fight my wars. Well, what happened is Sara came home one night and was having sex with a guy on our dining table. I came down to see what all the noise was about, and there she was with my so-called boyfriend. I got so upset; we had a big fight. Shit like that. I went to my room and cried myself to sleep. Well, when I came back downstairs in the morning to make something to eat, my ex walked in on me. I got so mad, and we both started shouting at each other. Well, my parents woke up and came to see what all the commotion was about. If you didn’t know, my parents are every religion, well, they are even though the committee sine, so mom asks who he was, and before I could even say a word, Sara spoke. Saying crap like, ‘omg mom, that is Julie’s boyfriend. You can’t believe how loud she was last night when they were having sex.’ My mom and dad were so mad, saying I didn’t only disrespect them but also God, and not only that, I went as far as bringing a guy into their house. So for that, I was shipped off to Miami. So, tell me, what do you see in my sister? I mean, you guys have been dating for what, a month, and you think you know her well enough to be getting married. Believe me, I don’t mind; I want her out of here as fast as possible. Trust me, I don’t wanna see her. So do me a favor and take her to your place as fast as possible.”

“Hahahaha, well, I know we have just been together for a month, but trust me, when you meet that one person you want to spend the rest of your life with, even if you have been dating for a day, getting married doesn’t change the way you feel.”

“That is deep shit, bro, but as you can see, I’m really tired. Can we talk about this tomorrow? I just came back from Miami today, and trust me, it’s been a really long day. So please, let me sleep.”

“Sure, baby girl. I will see you tomorrow.”

“I said I’m not your baby girl.” As he kissed me on the head and left the room, my face must be like a tomato right now. Covering my body, I closed my eyes and let sleep take over me.

“No, no, no, stop, someone help me, please, help me, someone, anyone out there, please, he is going to hurt me, please, I’m begging you, help. No, no, no, no, no, no, please stop this, no, no, no…” I screamed as my shot opened. I was crying, but not only that, my whole family was in my room, and Alex was holding me.

“Hey, hey, calm down. It was just a dream, okay, we are here now,” he said as he kept on stroking my back.

My mom took a seat next to me, looking at me with a sad smile, and spoke. “Hey, babe, what happened? What is the cause of all these nightmares?”

“Hmm, mom, I don’t really want to talk about it right now.”

“So when will you be ready to talk about it, Julie? Since you left for Miami, the house lady has called a thousand times saying you have been having these same nightmares over and over.”

“Wait, she told…you?”

“Yes, princess, she told us,” my dad answered.

“So what is the matter? What is going on, baby girl?” I was trembling. I felt like if Alex wasn’t holding me, I would have become jelly by now.

“Mom, Dad, I don’t really want to talk about it. I don’t want to remember what happened, okay? So please leave it.”

“Julie, what is wrong with you? You know the first rule in this house is to share your problems with us so we can help you overcome them. If we don’t know what’s going on, how do you expect us to help you out, baby girl?”

“I said I don’t want to talk about it, okay? I think it’s best if you guys leave. I would like to be alone, please.” A tear ran down my cheek as I started crying all over again. My parents and sister left, but Alex stayed as his hand tightened their hold on me. I leaned my head against his chest and cried; he just let me without any questions.

After about half an hour, I stopped crying and looked at him. “You shouldn’t be here; you should be with Sara.”

“I know, but she said it was alright.”

“Okay, but I’m fine now, so you can go back to her. I’m sure she misses you.” I looked at my shed; I didn’t want to be alone, but I couldn’t let my sister’s fiancé be the one to comfort me in my time of need. I’m used to doing this on my own, even if I don’t want to be left alone, I had to man up to it. It would be better this way; he wouldn’t have to ask too much if he stayed longer.

Getting out of his hold, I took the remote and put on the TV, going on Netflix and started looking, then just stopped on Alvin and the Chipmunks. I started it and lied down. I looked over at Alex to see him smiling at me. “Why are you smiling?”

“I’m just glad you stopped crying and knowing that if I leave, you would be okay.”

“Alex, I’m really happy you were here for me, thanks very much. I don’t know how I can ever thank you well enough.”

“It’s okay. I mean, you are Sara’s little sister, that makes you mine too, since we are together, so we are family.”

“Thanks, really.”

“Okay, princess, I’m gonna go to bed now. You take care of yourself, okay?”

“I’m not your princess.” I hiss at him.

”Okay, just take care of yourself.”

“I will.” With that, he kissed my cheek and left the room. I turned my attention back to the children’s film I picked out. I just needed something to take my mind off what happened